Tue, Oct 10, 2023
Winter/Spring 2024 Mesonet OK-First Classes Winter/Spring 2024 Mesonet OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix… Read More »
Thu, Apr 27, 2023
Summer/Fall 2023 Mesonet OK-First Classes Summer/Fall 2023 Mesonet OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix… Read More »
Tue, Jan 03, 2023
December Caps 2022 Rain Record December provided a fitting end to Oklahoma’s tumultuous 2022 weather story. This final chapter came complete with a half-dozen tornadoes,… Read More »
Tue, Nov 01, 2022
October Drought Relief Mixed Drought held on through October in Oklahoma for the fifteenth consecutive month, its roots dating back to August 2021 and… Read More »
Tue, Oct 11, 2022
Winter/Spring 2023 Mesonet OK-First Classes Winter/Spring 2023 Mesonet OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix… Read More »
Mon, Oct 03, 2022
September Continues Dry Dusty Weather Drought surged across Oklahoma as the driest September since 1956 took its toll on the state’s landscape. The amount of… Read More »
Wed, Aug 17, 2022
Fall 2022 OK-FIRE Classes Free training workshops will be offered this fall for both new and experienced users of OK-FIRE, the statewide weather-based decision support system… Read More »
Mon, Aug 01, 2022
July Heat Punishes Oklahoma The seemingly impenetrable heat wave and dry spell that had punished Oklahoma since early June continued through nearly all of… Read More »
Fri, Jul 01, 2022
June Teases Several Seasons June managed to pack pieces of three seasons into a single month. The first 10 days were quite springlike, with… Read More »
Wed, Jun 01, 2022
May Rains Dent Drought May’s reputation as Oklahoma’s most prolific severe weather month was confirmed within the first week with as many as… Read More »
Mon, May 02, 2022
April Winds Highest in Mesonet Era Opinions on Oklahoma’s weather are often more variable than the weather itself. Some Oklahomans will look back on April… Read More »
Wed, Apr 13, 2022
Summer/Fall 2022 Mesonet OK-First Classes Summer/Fall 2022 Mesonet OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix… Read More »
Fri, Apr 01, 2022
Variety Describes March Weather March’s weather ran the gamut of nearly all the hazards Oklahoma has to offer, befitting a seasonal transition month in… Read More »
Tue, Mar 01, 2022
Wintry Weather Rules February Three impactful winter storms struck Oklahoma during February, snarling traffic on state highways, bringing down power lines, and forcing… Read More »
Tue, Feb 01, 2022
Winter Arrives In January Winter arrived with conviction at the dawn of the new year in Oklahoma and delivered a startling counterpunch to the… Read More »
Tue, Jan 04, 2022
December Shatters Temperature Record In what could best be described as a climatological anomaly on steroids, Oklahoma soared to its warmest December on… Read More »
Wed, Dec 01, 2021
November Caps Off Warm, Dry Fall An extended pattern of warm, dry weather exacerbated drought conditions during November. Drought impacts, including fire danger and soil… Read More »
Thu, Nov 18, 2021
Spring 2022 Mesonet OK-First Classes Spring 2022 OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix of… Read More »
Mon, Nov 01, 2021
October Sets Tornado Record Oklahomans are growing accustomed to Mother Nature’s October weather shenanigans following a snowstorm of up to 13 inches in… Read More »
Tue, Oct 05, 2021
Fall 2021 OK-FIRE Classes Free training workshops will be offered this fall for both new and experienced users of OK-FIRE, the statewide weather-based decision… Read More »
Mon, May 02, 2016
Fears of the strengthening drought and associated wildfire danger, so prevalent through the first three months of the year, lasted about a week into April before Mother Nature unleashed spring on Oklahoma. Flooding, gigantic hail, severe winds and a final week filled with the threat of tornadoes were all in the offing during the month. The drought was quenched in most parts of the state by repeated storm systems. According to preliminary data from the Oklahoma Mesonet, the robust moisture propelled April to rank as the seventh wettest on record, dating back to 1895. The statewide average of 6.11 inches was nearly 3 inches above normal. Regional ranks ranged from the third wettest April for southwestern Oklahoma to the 27th wettest in east central parts of the state. Broken Bow led the Mesonet’s totals with 16.95 inches while Arnett had a more modest 2.23 inches. A few pockets in far western and east central Oklahoma had below normal rainfall and remained a concern for droughty conditions due to deficits that date to the beginning of the year. The month was also the 39th warmest April on record at 1.5 degrees above normal. Altus recorded a statewide high of 92 degrees on the 25th. Boise City recorded the last freeze of the month with 32 degrees on the 18th.
Despite the gaudy statistics, the real star of the month was the extreme and sometimes violent weather. Wildfires during that dry first week dominated the headlines, and none more so than the “350 Complex Fire” in northwest Oklahoma. The fire began on April 5 and burned uncontrolled for days despite the efforts of fire crews, some from as far away as Tennessee. Emergency management personnel estimated damages at $2.3 million from the fire as it scorched nearly 90 square miles in Woodward and Harper counties. The weather became much more exciting following that point with a cavalcade of powerful storm systems. Torrential rains fell from the 10th through the 20th, particularly across southern Oklahoma and the western Panhandle. Cimarron County saw severe flooding from 3-6 inches in some areas, nearly a third of their normal annual total. Two confirmed weak tornadoes touched down near Eva in Texas County on April 15, damaging a couple of farmhouses and out buildings. A few days of nice weather followed from the 21st through the 25th before severe weather erupted again on the heels of two consecutive storm systems. The first on the 26th dropped at least eight confirmed tornadoes from across the state according to local National Weather Service (NWS) offices, although all were considered weak tornadoes rated at EF-0 or EF-1 intensity. Nevertheless, the twisters and associated straight-line winds were quite damaging to power infrastructure, trees, residences and businesses. Flash flood warnings were issued for some of the storms, and hail to the size of golf balls was reported. Finally, the month closed out with another storm system on the 29th. Tornadic supercells were once again on the agenda, forming in southwestern Oklahoma before marching to the east and northeast. At least three confirmed tornadoes touched down according to NWS survey teams, but that preliminary number could go higher as more investigations are conducted. As with the twisters previously in the week, the confirmed tornadoes were all of the weak variety, but still damaging. Large hail was widespread with this round of storms. Ice to the size of grapefruits fell in Comanche County, with several other reports of baseball size hail or larger scattered around the state. More flooding occurred, especially across southeastern Oklahoma. The Mesonet site at Broken Bow recorded 8.73 inches of rain on the 29th, and several other southeastern Mesonet sites saw more than 4 inches.
The May temperature outlook from the NWS’ Climate Prediction Center sees increased odds of below normal temperatures for the western two-thirds of the state, with the highest odds across the western one-half. The precipitation outlook is bullish on above normal precipitation across all of Oklahoma, but especially the southwestern two-thirds. CPC’s May drought outlook indicates Oklahoma’s already diminishing drought is expected to be eradicated by the end of the month.
Download Word Doc
Download PDF